U.S. patent application number 09/997993 was filed with the patent office on 2002-07-04 for camera apparatus.
Invention is credited to Aiura, Shinji, Tashiro, Hiroyuki.
Application Number | 20020085844 09/997993 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 26604891 |
Filed Date | 2002-07-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020085844 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Tashiro, Hiroyuki ; et
al. |
July 4, 2002 |
Camera apparatus
Abstract
A camera apparatus which includes a casing; a pan unit having an
external video incident section; a pan shaft; a pan shaft support;
pan driving means for rotating the pan unit about the pan shaft; a
tilt unit having an internal video incident section and tilt face;
a tilt shaft; tilt driving means for rotating the tilt unit about
the tilt shaft; and a camera disposed inside the tilt unit. This
configuration allows to visibly recognize the movement of the
camera, and increases the design flexibility by covering an
internal mechanism. Moreover, the apparatus may be downsized by
reducing the unused space inside. Furthermore, a simple mechanism
increases the productivity of the camera apparatus.
Inventors: |
Tashiro, Hiroyuki;
(Fukuoka-Shi, JP) ; Aiura, Shinji; (Chikushi-Gun,
JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ROSSI & ASSOCIATES
P.O. Box 826
Ashburn
VA
20146-0826
US
|
Family ID: |
26604891 |
Appl. No.: |
09/997993 |
Filed: |
November 30, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
396/427 ;
348/E5.025; 348/E5.042 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G08B 13/19632 20130101;
H04N 5/2251 20130101; G08B 13/1963 20130101; H04N 5/23299 20180801;
G08B 13/19619 20130101; H04N 5/23206 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
396/427 |
International
Class: |
G03B 017/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 13, 2001 |
JP |
2001-69989 |
Nov 30, 2000 |
JP |
2000-364226 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A camera apparatus comprising: (a) a tilt unit in which a camera
is installed at the front of a first rotation axis, said tilt unit
tilting about said first rotation axis; (b) a pan unit in which
said tilt unit is rotatably held and tilt unit driving means for
rotating said tilt unit is provided at the back of said first
rotation axis, said pan unit panning about a second rotation axis
perpendicular to said first rotation axis; and (c) a casing for
rotatably holding said pan unit, said casing being provided with
pan driving means for rotating said pan unit.
2. A camera apparatus comprising: (a) a casing having an opening on
at least one face; (b) a pan unit disposed on said casing, said pan
unit having an external video incident section; (c) a pan shaft
disposed on said pan unit; (d) a pan shaft support disposed near
said opening for rotatably supporting said pan shaft; (e) pan
driving means for rotating said pan unit about said pan shaft; (f)
a tilt unit having an internal video incident section and a tilt
face inside said pan unit, said tilt face being concealed from said
external video incident section, and said tilt unit being disposed
in a way so as to visibly couple said external video incident
section and said internal video incident section; (g) a tilt shaft
disposed on said pan unit; (h) a camera disposed inside said tilt
unit; and (i) tilt driving means for rotating said tilt unit about
said tilt shaft, said tilt driving means being disposed inside said
pan unit at the back of said tilt shaft.
3. The camera apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein: said
opening is round; said pan unit is spherical hollow; and said pan
unit is disposed inside said casing such that a part of said pan
unit protrudes outward from said opening in said casing.
4. The camera apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said pan
shaft is integrally formed on an outer wall of said pan unit at
least at one of an upper and lower areas; and said pan shaft
support is fixedly disposed near said opening at least at one of an
upper and lower areas.
5. The camera apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said tilt
shaft is integrally formed on an inner wall of said pan unit.
6. The camera apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said tilt
face is practically a part of a spherical face.
7. The camera apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein said pan
shaft is coaxial to a spherical center axis of said pan unit.
8. The camera apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein said tilt
shaft is perpendicular to said pan shaft, and is coaxial to a
spherical center axis of said pan unit.
9. The camera apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein said tilt
driving means comprising: a tilt motor integrally coupled to one of
inside and a part of said pan unit; a tilt worm gear rotating in
synchronization with the rotation of a driving shaft of said tilt
motor; and a tilt worm wheel rotating about said tilt shaft in
synchronization with the rotation of said tilt worm gear.
10. The camera apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein said tilt
motor and said camera are respectively disposed at the front and
back of said pan shaft inside said pan unit.
11. The camera apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein said tilt
worm wheel is disposed between said tilt motor and said camera
inside said pan unit.
12. The camera apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein said tilt
worm wheel is disposed at a position higher than said tilt shaft
inside said pan unit.
13. The camera apparatus as defined in claim 9 having at least one
hooking hole on a rear face of said casing.
14. The camera apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said tilt
unit is rotatable to a predetermined position where said internal
video incident section of said camera is not visibly coupled to
said external video incident section of said pan unit.
15. The camera apparatus as defined in claim 14 further comprising
a controller for rotating said tilt unit to said predetermined
position when said camera apparatus is not in a video-shooting
mode.
16. The camera apparatus as defined in claim 14 further comprising
a controller having a network interface connectable to a network,
and said controller controlling the rotation of said tilt unit in
accordance with information received from said network.
17. A camera apparatus comprising: (a) a tilt unit in which a
camera is installed at its front and a tilt worm wheel is installed
at its back, said tilt unit being rotatably held for vertically
rotating about a tilt shaft; (b) a pan unit having a pan worm wheel
at its bottom end, said pan unit being rotatably held by a pan
shaft disposed at its top and bottom ends for horizontal rotation,
and said pan unit holding said tilt shaft; (c) a casing for
rotatably holding said pan unit for rotating about said pan shaft;
(d) tilt driving means disposed inside said pan unit, said tilt
driving means having a tilt worm gear for rotating said tilt unit
by engaging said tilt worm wheel; and (e) pan driving means
disposed inside said casing, said pan driving means having a pan
worm gear for rotating said pan unit by engaging said pan worm
wheel; wherein said tilt worm wheel and said tilt worm gear engage
at a position higher than said tilt shaft; and said pan worm wheel
and said pan worm gear engage at a position lower than said tilt
shaft.
18. A camera apparatus comprising: (a) a tilt unit in which a
camera having an internal video incident section is installed at
the front of a first rotation axis, said tilt unit tilting about
said first rotation axis; and (b) a pan unit which rotatably holds
said tilt unit, said pan unit having an external video incident
section to which said internal video incident section is visibly
coupled, and said pan unit panning about a second rotation axis
perpendicular to said first rotation axis; wherein said tilt unit
is also rotatable to a predetermined position where said internal
video incident section and said external video incident section are
visibly uncoupled.
19. A camera apparatus comprising: (a) a pan unit having an
external video incident section; and (b) a tilt unit disposed
inside said pan unit, said tilt unit having an internal video
incident section and a camera, and said tilt unit being rotatable
by the rotation of a tilt motor to a first position where said
external video incident section and said internal video incident
section are visibly coupled; wherein said tilt unit is also
rotatable to a second position where said internal video incident
section and said external video incident section are visibly
uncoupled.
20. A camera holder comprising: (a) a base formed into a board; and
(b) a camera anchoring section for hooking and securing a camera
apparatus on its front, said camera apparatus having a hooking
hole, and said camera anchoring section being disposed practically
perpendicular to said base; wherein at least one hook is disposed
on a front face of said camera anchoring section at vertically
symmetric positions, and said hook is disposed corresponding to
said hooking hole on said camera apparatus.
21. The camera holder as defined in claim 20, wherein the front
face of said camera anchoring section is tilted for not less than 5
degrees and not greater than 20 degrees from the perpendicular
relative to said base.
22. The camera support as defined in claim 21, wherein said tilting
is practically 10 degrees.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to camera apparatuses used for
crime prevention, surveillance, monitoring, and observation, and
more particularly to a camera apparatus configured with a simple
mechanism that enables the visual recognition of the movement of
its video incident section.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Camera apparatuses equipped with a camera, typically using a
CCD (charge coupled device), are often placed on ceilings, floors,
walls, etc. in various locations such as banks, shops, and
amusement centers for surveillance, monitoring, observation, and
crime prevention. These camera apparatuses have a mechanism that
pans the camera from side to side and tilts the camera up and down.
This mechanism allows the camera to aim in the target direction
from the installed position to capture a broader view.
[0003] The Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. H7-42261 (hereafter
referred to as "the prior art") discloses one of these conventional
camera apparatuses. The prior art has the following
configuration.
[0004] The prior art is a surveillance camera for monitoring the
surrounding area by moving the camera in three dimensions, and
comprises a base whose circumference is attached in pivotable
fashion to the wall or ceiling of a building; a camera body
supported by the base that allows it to pivot back and forth; a pan
motor for rotating the base circumferentially; and a tilt motor for
pivoting the camera body back and forth.
[0005] The base comprises a cylindrical support section for
supporting the camera body and an anchoring section, which is
secured onto the wall, for supporting this support section. The pan
motor is disposed to the side of the support section in the base. A
driving mechanism is provided for transmitting the force exerted by
the pan motor along or in parallel with the circumference of the
base support section. The camera body is cylindrical, and a driving
mechanism is provided for transmitting the force exerted by the
tilt motor along or in parallel with the circumference of the
camera body.
[0006] However, the prior art has the following disadvantages.
[0007] (1) Since the entire apparatus is covered with a spherical
(dome) cover, its appearance, including shape and color, is
limited, restricting design flexibility.
[0008] (2) The pivoting shaft for the camera body is disposed at
the rear end of the camera body. This increases the pivoting radius
when the camera body pivots, making the apparatus larger.
[0009] (3) The entire apparatus is covered by a spherical dome
cover, and thus the dome radius needs to be made larger than the
pivoting radius of the camera body. Accordingly, space not required
for pivoting the camera body is present inside the dome, making the
apparatus larger.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] The present invention solves the above disadvantages, and
offers a camera apparatus which enables visual monitoring of camera
movements, higher flexibility in design by enclosing the mechanism,
smaller camera apparatus by reduced unused space inside the
apparatus, and increased productivity by use of a simple
mechanism.
[0011] The camera apparatus of the present invention includes:
[0012] (a) a tilt unit which tilts about a first rotation axis when
a camera is installed at the front of the first rotation axis;
[0013] (b) a pan unit which pans about a second rotation axis
perpendicular to the first rotation axis when the pan unit
rotatably holds the tilt unit and tilt driving means for rotating
the tilt unit is provided at the back of the first rotation axis;
and
[0014] (c) a casing which rotatably holds the pan unit and has pan
driving means for rotating the pan.
[0015] Another camera apparatus of the present invention
includes:
[0016] (a) a casing which has an opening on at least one face;
[0017] (b) a pan unit which is disposed on the casing and has an
external video incident section;
[0018] (c) a pan shaft disposed on the pan unit;
[0019] (d) a pan shaft support disposed near the opening for
rotatably supporting the pan shaft;
[0020] (e) pan driving means for rotating the pan unit about the
pan shaft;
[0021] (f) a tilt unit which has an internal video incident section
and a tilt face inside the pan unit concealed from the external
video incident section, and this tilt unit is disposed such that
the external video incident section and internal video incident
section are visibly coupled;
[0022] (g) a tilt shaft disposed on the pan unit;
[0023] (h) a camera disposed inside the tilt unit; and
[0024] (i) a tilt unit driving means which is disposed inside the
pan at the back of the tilt shaft for rotating the tilt unit about
the tilt shaft and.
[0025] The above configurations reduces unused space inside the
apparatus and enables the apparatus to be downsized. In addition,
its simple mechanism offers a camera apparatus with high
productivity.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0026] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the part concerned of a
camera apparatus in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the
present invention.
[0027] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the part concerned
illustrating the state before attaching a camera holder of the
camera apparatus in FIG. 1.
[0028] FIG. 3 is a front view of the part concerned of the camera
apparatus in FIG. 1.
[0029] FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the camera apparatus taken
along Line 4-4 in FIG. 3 in accordance with a first exemplary
embodiment of the present invention.
[0030] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the part concerned
illustrating inside a pan unit of the camera apparatus in FIG.
4.
[0031] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the part concerned
illustrating inside a cover of the camera apparatus in FIG. 4.
[0032] FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the camera apparatus taken
along Line 7-7 in FIG. 3 in accordance with a second exemplary
embodiment.
[0033] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the part concerned
illustrating inside the pan unit of the camera apparatus in FIG.
7.
[0034] FIG. 9 is a block diagram of the camera apparatus in
accordance with the exemplary embodiments of the present
invention.
[0035] FIGS. 10A and 10B are perspective views of the parts
concerned illustrating the position of the pan unit of the camera
apparatus in FIG. 7.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INEVENTION
[0036] Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described
below with reference to drawings.
First Exemplary Embodiment
[0037] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the part concerned of a
camera apparatus in exemplary embodiments of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the part concerned illustrating the
state before attaching a camera holder of the camera apparatus in
FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a front view of the part concerned of the camera
apparatus in FIG. 1.
[0038] First, in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, camera apparatus 1 in the first
exemplary embodiment has base 2 which is a box with one open face.
Hooking hole 2a is created at the upper and lower parts of a rear
face of base 2. Cover 3 fits onto the opening of base 2. Base 2 and
cover 3 thus form casing 50 for camera apparatus 1.
[0039] Opening 60, which is approximately round, is provided at
approximately the center of cover 3. Spherical hollow pan unit 5
provided inside cover 3 is inserted through opening 60 and a part
of pan unit 5 protrudes outward from cover 3. External video
incident section 6, which is roughly oval, is formed on the surface
of pan unit 5. Spherical tilt face 70, which is roughly oval, is
provided inside pan unit 5 so as to cover external video incident
section 6 from inside pan unit 5.
[0040] Roughly circular internal video incident section 8 is formed
at approximately the center of tilt face 70 in a way so as to be
visibly coupled to external video incident section 6. Camera 9 is
disposed inside internal video incident section 8, and captures
external images through external video incident section 6 and
internal video incident section 8. Camera 9 has lens 10. Camera
holder 11 supports and secures camera apparatus 1 for attaching
camera apparatus 1 to a range of areas including ceiling, wall, and
floor. This camera holder 11 has base 11a, camera anchoring section
11b integrally formed with base 11a in a way approximately
perpendicular to the upper face of base 11a, and two hooks 11c at
the upper and lower parts on one side face of anchoring section
11b. These hooks 11c are respectively inserted and fitted to two
hooking holes 2a on base 2 of camera apparatus 1.
[0041] Base 2 is a prism-shaped, cylindrical, or triangular
prism-shaped box or frame.
[0042] Round hooking holes 2a are respectively created on the rear
face of base 2, and their circumference is provided with hanging
notches.
[0043] External video incident section 6 and internal video
incident section 8 are, for example, formed as follows. External
video incident section 6 and internal video incident section 8 are
created by making a hole in the surface of pan unit 5 or tilt face
70. The hole created in the surface of pan unit 5 or tilt face 70
may be covered with a transparent or semi-transparent synthetic
resin or glass. Alternatively, a part of the surface of pan unit 5
or tilt face 70 is formed with transparent or semitransparent
synthetic resin or glass.
[0044] Camera 9 integrally rotates when the tilt unit (described
later) rotates, and is adjustable to the required vertical angle
from the horizontal to about 45 degrees downward.
[0045] Camera holder 11 is configured with base 11a and camera
anchoring section 11b. Base 11a is a board with an adhesive area or
screw hole for securing camera apparatus 1 on the ceiling, wall,
floor, etc. As shown in FIG. 2, anchoring section 11b is integrally
formed with base 11a, and is practically perpendicular to base 11a.
The front face of this anchoring section 11b is 5 to 20 degrees,
preferably about 10 degrees, tilted from the perpendicular with
respect to base 11, and two hooks 11c are provided on this front
face.
[0046] Both hooks 11c correspond to hooking holes 2a provided on
the rear face of base 2 of camera apparatus 1, and are formed in
vertical symmetry. Both hooks 11c fit to respective hooking holes
2a so that the rear face of base 2 and front face of camera
anchoring section 11b are integrally connected. This enables, for
example, to install camera 9 facing upward at about 10 degrees from
the horizontal for gaining a wider field of view by installing
camera holder 11 on the floor and securing base 2 to anchoring
section 11b. If anchoring section 11b is tilted 5 degrees or less
from the perpendicular, it has a narrower upward field of view from
the place where camera apparatus 1 is installed. If anchoring
section 11b is tilted for 20 degrees or more from the
perpendicular, it has a correspondingly narrower downward field of
view.
[0047] In addition, since hooks 11c are formed in vertically
symmetric positions, camera apparatus 1 may be kept hooked without
the need to invert it when camera holder 11 is flipped to screw
base 11a onto a ceiling.
[0048] FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a camera apparatus in the
first exemplary embodiment of the present invention taken along
Line 4-4 in FIG. 3.
[0049] In FIG. 4, camera apparatus 1, base 2, hooking holes 2a,
cover 3, opening 60, pan unit 5, external video incident section 6,
tilt face 70, internal video incident section 8, camera 9, lens 10,
camera holder 11, base 11a, camera anchoring section 11b, and hooks
11c are the same as those illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3.
Accordingly, descriptions for these parts are omitted by giving the
same reference numerals.
[0050] Pan shaft 12 is integrally formed on an outer wall of pan
unit 5 at the upper and lower areas so that pan shaft 12 is coaxial
to a spherical center axis of pan unit 5. Pan shaft support 13 is
formed on an inner wall of cover 3 at the upper and lower areas
near opening 60, and rotatably supports pan shaft 12.
[0051] Pan gear shaft 14 is disposed perpendicular to pan shaft 12.
Pan worm gear 15 is journaled on gear shaft 14. Pan worm wheel 16
is fixed to pan shaft 12, and rotates by engaging worm gear 15.
[0052] Here, pan shaft 12, support 13, gear shaft 14, worm gear 15,
and worm wheel 16 configure pan driving means.
[0053] Tilt shaft 17 (first rotation axis) is disposed on the inner
wall of pan unit 5 coaxial to the spherical center axis of pan unit
5. One end of tilt support 18 is journaled on tilt shaft 17. Tilt
unit 19 has tilt face 70 disposed inside pan unit 5, and is fixed
to the other end of tilt support 18.
[0054] Tilt motor 20 inside pan unit 5 is disposed opposing to tilt
unit 19 with the spherical center axis of pan unit 5. Driving shaft
21 of tilt motor 20 is disposed perpendicular to tilt shaft 17.
[0055] Tilt small gear 22 is fixed to the end of driving shaft 21.
Tilt large gear 23 engages small gear 22 and rotates together with
it. Tilt worm gear 24 is integrally formed with large gear 23, and
rotates coaxial to a rotation axis of large gear 23. Large gear 23
and worm gear 24 are journaled on tilt gear shaft 25.
[0056] Tilt gear shaft support 26 is fixed to tilt motor 20, and
supports gear shaft 25. Tilt worm wheel 27 is fixed to the end of
tilt support 18 supported by tilt shaft 17, and engages worm gear
24 for rotating about tilt shaft 17 (first rotation axis).
[0057] Here, tilt motor 20, driving shaft 21, small gear 22, large
gear 23, worm gear 24, gear shaft 25, support 26, and worm wheel 27
configure tilt driving means.
[0058] Camera 9 is mounted at the front of tilt unit 19. Tilt worm
wheel 27 is installed at the back of tilt unit 19. Tilt shaft 17
rotatably holds tilt unit 19 for vertical rotation.
[0059] Pan shaft support 13, which is formed on cover 3 (casing),
rotatably holds pan unit 5 for horizontal rotation via pan shaft 12
(second rotation axis). Pan worm wheel 16 is placed at the bottom
end of pan unit 5.
[0060] Tilt worm gear 24 engages tilt worm wheel 27 to effect
vertical rotation of tilt unit19. Pan worm gear 15 engages pan worm
wheel 16 to effect horizontal rotation of pan unit 5. Tilt worm
wheel 27 and tilt worm gear 24 engage at the position higher than
the rotation center axis (tilt shaft 17) of tilt unit 19, and pan
worm wheel 16 and pan worm gear 15 engage at the position lower
than the rotation center axis (tilt shaft 17) of tilt unit 19.
[0061] Board 28 is disposed inside base 2, and electrical circuits
are formed on board 28. A controller (not illustrated) controls
tilt motor 20 to rotate tilt motor driving shaft 21 in the required
directions.
[0062] The operation of the camera apparatus in the first exemplary
embodiment as configured above is described next.
[0063] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the part concerned of the
camera apparatus in FIG. 4 for illustrating inside the pan.
[0064] In FIG. 5, pan unit 5, external video incident section 6,
tilt face 70, camera 9, pan shaft 12, tilt shaft 17, tilt support
18, tilt unit 19, tilt motor 20, tilt motor driving shaft 21, small
gear 22, large gear 23, tilt worm gear 24, tilt gear shaft 25, tilt
gear shaft support 26, and tilt worm wheel 27 are the same as those
described in FIG. 4. Accordingly, descriptions for these parts are
omitted by giving the same reference numerals. Lead wire 29
electrically couples camera 9 and board 28.
[0065] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the part concerned
illustrating the inside the cover of the camera apparatus in FIG.
4.
[0066] In FIG. 6, cover 3, opening 60, pan unit 5, pan shaft 12,
pan shaft support 13, pan gear shaft 14, pan worm gear 15, pan worm
wheel 16, and tilt motor 20 are the same as those described in FIG.
4. Accordingly, descriptions for these parts are omitted by giving
the same reference numerals.
[0067] Pan motor 30 is fixed to cover 3. The force exerted by pan
motor 30 rotates driving shaft 31 of pan motor 30. Pan small gear
32 is fixed to driving shaft 31, and rotates together. Pan large
gear 33 is integrally and rotatably disposed on pan worm gear 15 to
rotate about pan gear shaft 14, and engages small gear 32 for
rotation. Pan gear shaft support 34 secures pan motor 30, and
supports gear shaft 14. The controller (not illustrated) controls
pan motor 30 to rotate driving shaft 31 in the required
directions.
[0068] Here, pan motor 30, driving shaft 31, small gear 32, large
gear 33, gear shaft 14, worm gear 15, worm wheel 16, and pan shaft
12 configure pan driving means.
[0069] Camera apparatus 1 in the first exemplary embodiment allows
camera 9 to be pivoted horizontally through pan operation, and
camera 9 to be pivoted vertically through tilt operation. Camera 9
thus captures images in the required directions by combining pan
and tilt operations. Pan and tilt operations of camera apparatus 1
are described separately below. In normal use, camera apparatus 1
executes pan and tilt operations at the same time to direct camera
9 in the required directions.
[0070] (a) Pan Operation of Camera 9 (FIG. 6)
[0071] First, pan motor 30 is driven to rotate pan motor driving
shaft 31. In response to this rotation, pan small gear 32 fixed to
driving shaft 31 rotates about driving shaft 31. In response to the
rotation of pan small gear 32, pan large gear 33, engaged with
small gear 32 and pan worm gear 15 integrally formed with large
gear 33 respectively rotate about pan gear shaft 14. Then, in
response to this rotation, pan worm wheel 16, engaged with worm
gear 15, rotates about pan shaft 12. This makes pan shaft 12
rotate, and accordingly pan unit 5 rotates about pan shaft 12.
[0072] Pan motor 30 is designed to rotate driving shaft 31
clockwise and counterclockwise, that is, in the required direction.
Pan operation to pivot camera 9 clockwise and counterclockwise is
thus implemented by controlling the rotating direction of pan motor
30.
[0073] (b) Tilt Operation of Camera 9 (FIG. 5)
[0074] First, tilt motor 20 is driven to rotate tilt motor driving
shaft 21. In response to this rotation, tilt small gear 22 fixed to
driving shaft 21 rotates about driving shaft 21. In response to
this rotation, tilt large gear 23, engaged with small gear 22, and
tilt worm gear 24 formed integrally with large gear 23 respectively
rotate about tilt gear shaft 25. Then, in response to this
rotation, tilt worm wheel 27, engaged with worm gear 24, rotates
about tilt shaft 17. This makes tilt shaft 17 rotate, and
accordingly, tilt unit 19 rotates about tilt shaft 17.
[0075] Tilt motor 20 is designed to rotate driving shaft clockwise
and counterclockwise, that is, in the required direction. Tilt
operation to vertically pivot camera 9 is thus implemented by
controlling the rotating direction of tilt motor 20.
[0076] Next, the effects of the camera apparatus in the first
exemplary embodiment are described.
[0077] (1) The force exerted by tilt motor 20 is transmitted in the
sequence of driving shaft 21, small gear 22, large gear 23, worm
gear 24, worm wheel 27, tilt support 18, and tilt unit 19. Tilt
unit 19 thus rotates about tilt shaft 17 by driving tilt motor 20.
This simple mechanism facilitates manufacture, and in turn fosters
better productivity.
[0078] (2) The movement of pan unit 5 and tilt unit 19 may be
confirmed from outside through opening 60 on cover 3 and external
video incident section 6 of pan unit 5. In addition, the movement
of camera 9 and lens 10 may be confirmed through internal video
incident section 8 formed on tilt face 70 of tilt unit 19.
[0079] This allows to confirm by eye the movement of camera 9, thus
enabling the confirmation of the video-shooting direction of camera
apparatus 1 from outside.
[0080] (3) The mechanism inside camera apparatus 1 is covered with
base 2, cover 3, pan unit 5, and tilt face 70. This gives more
flexibility in appearance and design including shape and color.
[0081] (4) Pan unit 5 is spherical and hollow, and pan shaft 12 is
coaxial to the spherical center axis of pan unit 5. In addition,
tilt motor 20 and camera 9 are disposed at the front and rear of
pan shaft 12 at opposing positions. This minimizes the rotation
radius of pan unit 5 to the left and right, enabling the entire
camera apparatus to be made more compact.
[0082] (5) In pan unit 5, tilt unit 19 pivots only at the lower
part of pan unit 5. Accordingly, sufficient pivoting space for tilt
unit 19 may be secured at the lower part of pan unit 5 by disposing
tilt worm wheel 27 at the upper part of pan unit 5. The internal
space of spherical hollow pan unit 5 may thus be used efficiently
to make pan unit 5 smaller, and thus camera apparatus 1
smaller.
[0083] (6) In pan unit 5, tilt shaft 17 is coaxial to the spherical
center axis of pan unit 5. This enables the rotation radius of tilt
unit 19 which rotates about tilt shaft 17 to be made smaller. Pan
unit 5 may in turn be made smaller, and thus camera apparatus 1
smaller.
[0084] (7) Tilt unit 19 is disposed inside pan unit 5, and thus pan
unit 5 and tilt 19 are integrally manufactureable. This improves
productivity, and in turn reduces cost.
[0085] (8) Hooks 11c are formed symmetrically in the vertical
direction. This allows base 2 to be hooked onto camera holder 11
such that base 11a is below base 2. Alternatively, base 2 may be
hooked onto camera holder 11 such that base 11a is above base 2.
Accordingly, the body of camera apparatus 1 may be placed or fixed
to the floor or ceiling by camera holder 11 without the need to
invert the entire apparatus.
[0086] (9) Camera anchoring section 11b is tilted about 10 degrees
from the perpendicular. This makes camera 9 tilted 10 degrees
upward from the horizontal when camera apparatus 1 is placed on a
flat surface such as the floor, allowing a wider area to be
captured.
[0087] The upward field of view becomes narrower from the location
where camera apparatus 1 is installed if camera anchoring section
11b is tilted 5 degrees or less from the perpendicular. On the
other hand, tilting over 20 degrees from the perpendicular
restricts the downward field of view from the location where camera
apparatus 1 is installed.
Second Exemplary Embodiment
[0088] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the part concerned of a
camera apparatus in exemplary embodiments of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the part concerned illustrating the
state before attaching a camera holder in the camera apparatus in
FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a front view of the part concerned of the camera
apparatus in FIG. 1. FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the camera
apparatus in a second exemplary embodiment taken along Line 7-7 in
FIG. 3.
[0089] The only difference in the second exemplary embodiment from
the camera apparatus in the first exemplary embodiment is the tilt
driving section. Accordingly, descriptions on FIGS. 1 to 3 are
omitted since they are the same as those in the first exemplary
embodiment.
[0090] In FIG. 7, camera apparatus 1, base 2, hooking holes 2a,
cover 3, opening 60, pan unit 5, external video incident section 6,
tilt face 70, internal video incident section 8, camera 9, lens 10,
camera holder 11, base 11a, camera anchoring section 11b, and hooks
11c are the same as those illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3.
Accordingly, descriptions for these parts are omitted by giving the
same reference numerals.
[0091] Pan shaft 12 is integrally formed on an outer wall of pan
unit 5 at the upper and lower areas so that pan shaft 12 is coaxial
to the spherical center axis of pan unit 5. Pan shaft support 13 is
formed on the inner wall of cover 3 at the upper and lower areas
near opening 60, and rotatably supports pan shaft 12.
[0092] Pan gear shaft 14 is disposed perpendicular to pan shaft 12.
Pan worm gear 15 is journaled on gear shaft 14. Pan worm wheel 16
is fixed to pan shaft 12, and rotates by engaging worm gear 15.
[0093] Tilt shaft 17 is disposed on an inner wall of pan unit 5
coaxial to the spherical center axis of pan unit 5. One end of tilt
support 18 is journaled on tilt shaft 17. Tilt unit 19 has tilt
face 70 inside pan unit 5, and is fixed to the other end of tilt
support 18.
[0094] Tilt motor 20 is disposed inside pan unit 5 opposing tilt
unit 19 with the spherical center axis of pan unit 5. Driving shaft
21 of tilt motor 20 is disposed perpendicular to tilt shaft 17.
[0095] Tilt worm gear 24 is fixed to tilt motor driving shaft 21,
and rotates coaxially to this driving shaft 21. Tilt worm wheel
support 260 is fixed to tilt motor 20, and tilt worm wheel 27 is
rotatably attached to tilt worm wheel support 260. This worm wheel
27 engages worm gear 24 and rotates together.
[0096] Tilt shaft gear 35 is attached to tilt support 18, and is
rotatable about tilt shaft 17. Belt 36 is hooked between tilt small
gear 22 and shaft gear 35 so that worm wheel 27 and shaft gear 35
operate in synchronization. Here, small gear 22 is configured so as
to integrally rotate with worm wheel 27.
[0097] Here, tilt motor 20, driving shaft 21, small gear 22, worm
gear 24, worm wheel 27, shaft gear 35, and belt 36 configure tilt
driving means.
[0098] Camera 9 is mounted at the front of tilt unit 19, and tilt
worm wheel 27 is installed at the back of tilt unit 19 with tilt
shaft 17. Tilt shaft 17 rotatably holds tilt unit 19 for vertical
rotation.
[0099] Pan shaft support 13, which is formed on cover 3, rotatably
holds pan unit 5 for horizontal rotation via pan shaft 12. Pan worm
wheel 16 is placed at the bottom end of pan unit 5.
[0100] Tilt worm gear 24 engages tilt worm wheel 27, and rotates
tilt shaft gear 35 together through small gear 22 and belt 36 to
rotate tilt unit 19. Pan worm gear 15 engages pan worm wheel 16 to
rotate pan unit 5. Worm wheel 27 and worm gear 24 engage at the
position higher than the rotation center axis of tilt unit 19. In
addition, worm wheel 16 and worm gear 15 engage at the position
lower than the rotation center axis (tilt shaft 17) of tilt unit
19. However, the present invention is not limited to the above
engagement positions.
[0101] Board 28 is disposed inside base 2, and electrical circuits
are formed on board 28. A controller (not illustrated) controls
tilt motor 20 to rotate driving shaft 21 in the required
direction.
[0102] The operation of the camera apparatus in the second
exemplary embodiment as configured above is described with
reference to drawings.
[0103] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the part concerned inside
the pan of the camera apparatus in FIG. 7.
[0104] Camera apparatus 1 in the second exemplary embodiment
features, as in the first exemplary embodiment, has a pan operation
for pivoting camera 9 horizontally and tilt operation for pivoting
camera 9 vertically. Camera 9 may be directed in the required
direction for capturing images by combining pan and tilt
operations. The second exemplary embodiment differs from the first
exemplary embodiment only in the tilt configuration, and thus only
the tilt operation is described below, omitting that for pan
operation.
[0105] For tilting camera 9 (FIGS. 7 and 8), tilt motor 20 is
driven to rotate driving shaft 21. Since tilt worm gear 24 is fixed
to driving shaft 21, worm gear 24 also rotates when driving shaft
21 rotates. In addition, since worm gear 24 is engaged with tilt
worm wheel 27, worm wheel 27 rotates when worm gear 24 rotates. The
rotation of worm wheel 27 is then transmitted to tilt shaft gear 35
through small gear 22 and belt 36, and accordingly tilt unit 19
rotates by rotating shaft gear 35 about tilt shaft 17.
[0106] Tilt motor 20 is designed to rotate driving shaft 21
clockwise and counterclockwise, that is, in the required direction.
Tilt operation to vertically pivot camera 9 is thus implemented by
controlling the rotating direction of tilt motor 20.
[0107] The configuration of the camera apparatus in the second
exemplary embodiment as configured above enables transmission of
the force exerted by tilt motor 20 in the sequence of driving shaft
21, worm gear 24, worm wheel 27, small gear 22, belt 36, shaft gear
35, tilt support 18, and tilt unit 19. In other words, tilt unit 19
rotates about tilt shaft 17 as a result of driving tilt motor 20.
Accordingly, the camera apparatus in the second exemplary
embodiment has a simple mechanism that facilitates better
manufacturing productivity, as in the first exemplary
embodiment.
[0108] Moreover, provision of belt 36 for rotating tilt shaft gear
35 which rotates about tilt shaft 17 during tilt operation allows
tilt worm gear 24 and tilt worm wheel 27 to be placed at the side
of tilt motor 20. Transmission of rotational force of worm wheel 27
to tilt unit 19 using the belt allows space to be secured at the
upper area of the pan unit 5 relatively easily for pivoting tilt
unit 19, compared to versions using wheels. Accordingly pan unit S
may be made smaller even for vertical tilt operation, resulting in
smaller camera apparatus 1.
[0109] Since the second exemplary embodiment differs from the first
exemplary embodiment only in the tilt driving section, effects (2)
to (9) described in the first exemplary embodiment apply in the
same fashion to the second exemplary embodiment.
[0110] When the camera apparatus is in a video-shooting mode,
internal video incident section 8 captures the image through
external video incident section 6. When camera apparatus 1 is in a
standby mode, tilt motor 20 is driven to effect the rotation of
tilt face 70 upward of pan unit 5 so that internal video incident
section 8 is concealed from external video incident section 6. This
operation is detailed below with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10.
[0111] FIG. 9 is a block diagram of the camera apparatus in the
exemplary embodiments of the present invention. FIG. 10A shows the
normal position (video-shooting position) of the pan unit of the
camera apparatus in FIG. 7. FIG. 10B shows the standby position of
the pan unit of the camera.
[0112] In FIG. 9, camera apparatus 40 captures a target image and
transmits video data. Receiver 41 receives and displays the image
transmitted from camera apparatus 40 and also controls camera
apparatus 40 using control commands. For example, receiver 41 may
be a client PC. General network 42 such as the Internet is
typically used for transmitting images and control commands.
[0113] Video-shooting unit 43 is disposed inside or outside the
camera apparatus so as to permit pan and tilt operations, and
captures the target image. This is specifically shown in FIGS. 10A
and 10B. Memory 44 stores video data taken by video-shooting unit
43. Controller 45 controls video-shooting unit 43, receives control
commands for controlling the direction through general network 42,
or sends video data to receiver 41. Network interface 46 is
provided between general network 42 and camera apparatus 40 for
sending and receiving data according to network protocols.
[0114] Browser 47 (such as Microsoft's Internet Explorer) installed
in receiver 41 receives and displays video data from camera
apparatus 40. Browser 47 may also display information on the screen
of other servers in general network 42 in accordance with URLs
(Uniform Resource Locators) which indicate where target data is
stored. Moreover, the video-shooting angle of video-shooting unit
43 may be changed by using a button (not illustrated) displayed on
the display screen of browser 47. Network interface 48 exists
between general network 42 and receiver 41. Controller 49 controls
the entire receiver 41.
[0115] The operation of camera apparatus 40 in the second exemplary
embodiment is described next relating to receiver 41.
[0116] Controller 43 of camera apparatus 40 rotates tilt face 70
upward by driving tilt motor 20 when there is no access from
receiver 41, which means, for example, when no address designation
signal for camera apparatus 40 is received from browser 47 of
receiver 41. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 10B, tilting is
executed such that internal video incident section 8 enters inside
casing of pan unit 5 so that internal video incident section 8 is
completely concealed from the position of external video incident
section 6 (this position is hereafter referred to as the "standby
position").
[0117] On the other hand, when camera apparatus 40 in the standby
position is accessed by receiver 41, controller 43 of camera
apparatus 40 drives tilt motor 20 to rotate tilt face 70 downward
to a predetermined position (changeable by setting) as illustrated
in FIG. 10A. Once access is made, camera apparatus 40 does not
return to the standby position for a predetermined period even if
receiver 41 stops access. This enables the prevention of repeated
and frequent tilting between standby and predetermined positions.
In addition, image capturing out of the target video-shooting area
is preventable by controlling tilt unit 19 so as not to rotate it
in the standby position.
[0118] The second exemplary embodiment shows an example of
automatic standby mode. However, receiver 41 may submit a command
to set the camera apparatus to the standby position. For example,
the camera apparatus may send html (Hypertext Markup Language) code
to receiver 41 to display the standby button on the screen, and
this button is clicked at receiver 41 to execute standby.
[0119] Moreover, the camera apparatus may be set to the standby
position when the power is turned off, and to shift to the
predetermined position for video-shooting when the power is turned
on.
[0120] The above configuration enables information to be provided
by the camera apparatus that it is not in the video-shooting mode
when internal video incident section 8 is hidden inside the casing
of pan unit 5. This reassures people that they are not being
monitored when the camera is in standby position. In addition, this
structure eliminates the need for a camera case, since internal
video incident section 8 of the camera apparatus is concealed
inside the casing of pan unit 5 when not in use and thus the casing
of pan unit 5 acts as the camera case. Furthermore, this structure
eliminates the need to attach the camera case by providing an
automatic standby function or giving a command from other equipment
to set the camera in the standby position, demonstrating better
usability.
[0121] As described above, the present invention demonstrates the
following advantageous effects.
[0122] (1) The movement of the camera can be visually recognized
since the movement of the pan and tilt units and camera direction
may be confirmed from the outside. This offers a camera apparatus
with good usability.
[0123] (2) There is great freedom of choice in appearance,
including shape and color, because the mechanism inside the camera
apparatus is covered with casing, pan unit, and tilt face, offering
the potential for more flexible external design.
[0124] (3) The tilt unit integrally disposed inside the pan offers
a smaller camera apparatus.
[0125] (4) The coaxial design of the pan shaft and the spherical
center axis of the pan unit minimizes the rotation radius of the
pan unit about the pan shaft, offering a smaller camera
apparatus.
[0126] (5) The coaxial design of the tilt shaft inside the pan unit
and the spherical center axis of the pan unit enables reduction of
the rotation radius of the tilt unit about the tilt shaft, offering
a camera apparatus with a smaller pan unit.
[0127] (6) The tilt shaft inside the pan unit is disposed coaxially
to the spherical center axis of the pan unit. This enables the tilt
unit to be placed inside the pan unit, offering a camera apparatus
that is easier to manufacture, thus enabling better productivity to
be achieved.
[0128] (7) The force exerted by the tilt motor is transmitted in
the following sequence: tilt motor driving shaft, tilt worm gear,
tilt worm wheel, tilt support, and tilt unit. The tilt unit thus
rotates about the tilt shaft by driving the tilt motor. This simple
mechanism facilitates manufacture and offers a camera apparatus
with good productivity.
[0129] (8) The pan and tilt units are integrally manufactureable
inside the same sphere by disposing the tilt unit inside the pan
unit. This enables the improvement of productivity, and thus offers
a camera apparatus at lower cost.
[0130] (9) The tilt motor and camera are disposed to the front and
back of the pan shaft opposing each other in the pan unit. This
allows to minimize the rotation radius of the pan unit about the
pan shaft, offering a smaller camera apparatus.
[0131] (10) The tilt worm wheel is disposed between the tilt motor
and camera inside the pan unit. This makes it possible to dispose
the tilt driving means inside the pan unit using the space inside
the spherical hollow pan unit efficiently, which in turn reduces
the size of the pan unit, and allows to downsize the camera
apparatus.
[0132] (11) The number of components may be reduced by disposing
the tilt worm wheel between the tilt motor and camera. This
improves productivity, offering the camera apparatus at lower
cost.
[0133] (12) The tilt worm wheel may be disposed at the upper part
of the pan unit when the tilt unit pivots only at the lower part of
the pan unit. This allows sufficient pivoting space to be secured
for the tilt unit at the lower part of the pan unit, and thus the
space inside the spherical hollow pan may be efficiently used for
disposing the tilt driving means inside the pan unit, offering a
camera apparatus with smaller pan unit.
[0134] (13) The rotation of the tilt worm wheel is transmitted to
the tilt unit via the belt inside the pan unit when the tilt unit
is intended to be pivoted to the upper area of the pan unit. This
facilitates the securing of pivoting space for the tilt unit also
in the upper area than that required by a structure using wheels.
Accordingly, the pan unit may be made smaller even for vertical
tilt operation, and in turn downsize the camera apparatus.
[0135] (14) The use of a hooking member such as a screw facilitates
hanging and detaching of the camera apparatus on the wall.
[0136] (15) The camera support is configured with the base formed
into a board and the camera anchoring section disposed on the top
face of the base approximately perpendicularly for fixing the
casing of the camera apparatus at its front by hooking. At least
one hook is provided at vertically symmetric positions on the front
of the camera anchoring section. This makes it possible to place
the camera apparatus on a desk or cabinet, or secure the base to a
wall, ceiling, or floor by adhesive or screw for easier attachment
on and detachment from the wall or ceiling, offering good user
convenience.
[0137] (16) The hook disposed at the front of the camera anchoring
section makes it possible to hook the camera apparatus by inserting
the hook into a hooking hole created in a rear face of the casing
of the camera apparatus. This facilitates securing of the camera
apparatus by hooking, offering a camera holder with good user
convenience.
[0138] (17) The vertically symmetrical shape of the hook enables
the casing of the camera apparatus to be hooked onto the camera
holder such that the base is placed below the casing of the camera
apparatus. In addition, the casing may be hooked onto the camera
holder even when the camera holder is inverted and the base is
placed above the casing. This makes it possible to place or secure
the camera apparatus on either the floor or the ceiling without the
need to invert the camera apparatus, offering a camera holder with
good user convenience.
[0139] (18) The tilt operation is executed to completely conceal
the internal video incident section from the position of the
external video incident section when in the standby mode. This
allows people to visually confirm whether they are being monitored
or not because it is apparent that an image is not taken when the
internal video incident section is concealed inside the casing of
the pan unit. In addition, the casing of the pan unit acts as a
camera case because the internal video incident section is
concealed inside the casing of the pan when not in use, thus
eliminating the need for the camera case. Furthermore, the need to
attach the camera case is eliminated by applying a function by
which the apparatus returns to the standby mode automatically when
the camera is not in use or by setting the apparatus in the standby
mode using a command from other equipment, offering good user
convenience.
* * * * *